The Shark Blog

Making preseason
predictions is foolish enough in a normal year, so trying to make sense out of
what may take place over the next few months in the NHL is completely uncharted
foolishness.So let's get started.

TEAMS ON THE MOVE

No point in dwelling
on the obvious ends of the spectrum.Yes, the Penguins, Rangers, Blues, etc. will be the teams to beat again
this year, while the Jackets, Flames, Jets, etc. struggle to stay relevant.What's truly interesting is the teams that
could make some serious movement (for better or worse) in the upcoming
shortened season.For whatever reason,as I look up and down the lineups of each
team in the standings from last season, a few squads jump out as teams to
watch.

GOING UP:

Buffalo Sabres - After reshuffling the deck in
the summer of 2011, the Sabres had a hard time coming together in the early
months of last season.By mid season,
they were a formidable squad that made a near historic run, before just missing
the playoffs.It's been a long spell
since, so it's tough to assume that they'll just keep it rolling, but if
there's one non-playoff team heading in the right direction, it's the Sabres.If Miller stays solid, this team could
challenge for tops in the East and should win their division.

Carolina Hurricanes- The Canes tried to remake
their image last July with the addition of Jordan Staal and Alex Semin.The key to this team will be Cam Ward and the
defense.It's a tough bunch to predict,
but the Canes could easily emerge first from a horribly weak division.

Edmonton Oilers - The streak of drafting first
overall has certainly come to end.The
same should be said for the playoff drought. Expect the youngsters to put up
goals in droves and even win some games in the process this time around.

GOING DOWN:

Detroit Redwings - After two decades of NHL
dominance, the Motor City reign of terror is has come to an end.Lidstrom is gone and it's finally time to
start over for the Wings.They've toyed
with missing the postseason the last two years.They won't bother teasing this time around.Crash and burn.

New Jersey Devils - Ironically, the two teams
that met in the finals the last time we went down this 48 game road are my
picks for biggest losers coming out of this one.With Parise gone, Kovalchuk not wanting to
come back, ownership troubles, and a one-two punch in net that's older than
your mom, it's tough to find encouraging signs for the Devils.No chance this team makes the playoffs.

FINAL STANDINGS (by points)

Starting in the East:

1. Pittsburgh *

2. New York Rangers

3. Buffalo Sabres *

4. Boston Bruins

5. Carolina
Hurricanes *

6. Philadelphia
Flyers

7. Toronto Maple
Leafs

8. Tampa Bay
Lightning

--------------------------

9. Washington
Capitals

10. Florida Panthers

11. Ottawa Senators

12. Montreal
Canadiens

13. New York
Islanders

14. Winnepeg Jets

15. New Jersey
Devils

Yes, once again, it
looks like the "winner" from the Southeast Division will unjustly
claim 3rd seed, while the 2nd best team in the East gets bumped down to
fourth.This time, the Rangers will get
the shaft, instead of the Penguins.The
Leafs will end their playoff absence, while the Caps will be on the outside
this time around.

Now, on to the West:

1. St. Louis Blues *

2. LA Kings *

3. Nashville
Predators

4. Edmonton Oilers *

5. Vancouver Canucks

6. Chicago
Blackhawks

7. Phoenix Coyotes

8. San Jose Sharks

--------------------------

9. Dallas Stars

10. Detroit Redwings

11. Minnesota Wild

12. Colorado
Avalanche

13. Anaheim Ducks

14. Calgary Flames

15. Columbus Blue
Jackets

A few notes from the
West.Yes, it will be tight as always,
but it's not because the West is so much better than the East.It's because there are so many mediocre teams
that you can pull them out of a hat once you get past 5th place.The Ducks always start slow, so they'll run
out of time before the annual playoff push this year.I'm not drinking the Wild koolaid based on
one big day of UFA signings.Ultimately,
it's going to come down to goaltending to decide the winners and losers here.

THE HARDWARE

MVP / Art Ross

Crosby.End. Of. Discussion.

Rocket Richard

Despite a handful of
worthy competitors, Stamkos will be holding on to this one for a few years.

Norris

Shea Weber will
claim his first of many this year.Expect some votes for Letang and Karlsson.

Vezina

The committee always
seems to be a year behind in naming the winner here.Jonathan Quick gets his due in 2013.

Presidents Trophy

The Blues will be so
good defensively, they'll win this with a week to go in the season.

Stanley Cup

Last year, I
predicted a California / Pennsylvania matchup in this space.I was right on one end.

My vague, cloudy
crystal ball shows me the winner this time will emerge from either PA or NY
state and will take on a team from the Central Division.{pause while I crumble up papers.Place them in the hat…}… and the gutsy
prediction is:

The Buffalo Sabres will claim their first Cup over
the St. Louis Blues.